October is Black History Month

The Church of England celebrates Black History month with this prayer

Compassionate God,
who sent Jesus Christ to deliver us from all manner of injustices and inequalities,
create in us new hearts and enlarged visions,
to see the image of God in every person
irrespective of background, race and ethnicity.

May we be generous in our love of others
as we work towards ending racism and injustice;
creating communities of human flourishing,
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever

Amen.

Congregation member Cllr Grace Quansah shares her poem about a wonderful African poet

Phillis Wheatley: The Girl Who Loved Words

Once a girl from Africa’s shore,
she played and laughed, and dreamed of more.
But taken far across the sea,
Her heart still longed for liberty.

A kind new home, she learned to write,
Her poems shone with truth and light.
Through every test her faith stayed strong,
Her words of hope became her song.

Though gone so young, her voice lives still,
A poet brave, with love and will.
She showed the world what words can be—
A light for truth and dignity.